Sarah Barney

Sarah (she/her) is the founder, visionary and lead farmer behind Among the Oaks Herb Farm. Originally from Central Kentucky, she has come to find home in the Appalachian hills. She is inspired by the dense forests of the region, the many creatures who share land with her and a commitment to making positive change in her community. The farm was born out of her desire to help folks connect with plants on a deeper level and to create supportive, land-based employment for herself and others.

Before starting the farm, Sarah was a research ecologist studying insects and birds in a diversity of environments. She has worked on a variety of farms, as a farmworker or researcher, including squash in Kentucky, coffee farms in Mexico, almond orchards in California and diversified fruit and vegetable farmsteads in Ecuador and Peru. As a farmer, she applies her experience as an ecologist by managing the farm in a way that utilizes the natural cycles of the earth rather than fighting against them.

Alex Petit

Alex (she/her) is involved in many aspects of Among the Oaks – everything from sowing seeds and harvesting to blending teas and dreaming about our future. She is also the manager of our farmers market booth at the Red River Gorge. In her own words… A simple story of who I am is that I left the military, plant medicine found me and my life started anew. Everyday is a practice of coming home and discovering different tools that help me remember how. I’m fond of having experiences, citizen science and small dogs.

Reena Martin

Reena (she/her) joined us in 2024 as the manager of our Lexington Farmers Market booth.

JB Pitts

JB (he/they) joined us in 2025 as both an apothecary assistant and an intern on the farm.

Jessi Billings

Jessi (they/them) also joined us in 2025 as our booth manager at the Knoxville Farmers Market.